Creature Feature – Vaquita
This week is the letter ‘V’, and today’s featured creature is the Vaquita.
The Vaquita is a porpoise, that wasn’t discovered until 1958 and is the world’s rarest marine mammal. They have a large dark ring around its eyes and dark patches on their lips that form a thin line from the mouth to the pectoral fins.
Taxonomy
Scientific Name: Phocoena sinus
Phylum: Chordata
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Phocoenidae
Genus: Phocoena
© Paula Olson, NOAA
Vaquita Fact File
Size: Individuals can reach 1.5m in length and weigh up to 55kg
Distribution: This species is endemic to the northern end of the Gulf of California in Baja California, Mexico
Diet: Vaquitas are generalists, foraging on a variety of fish species, crustaceans, and squids
Behaviour: Vaquitas are generally seen alone or in pairs, often with a calf. Little is known about the life history of this species
IUCN Status: The species is currently on the brink of extinction, and is listed as Critically Endangered. It is estimated that perhaps only 10 adult individuals remain in the wild. The vaquita will be extinct if fishery bycatch is not eliminated immediately
